Kirsty Gilmour has started her bid to claim a first Scottish Open Badminton Grand Prix title by re-asserting her status as Scotland’s outstanding singles player.

The Glasgow-based 22-year-old found herself up against a compatriot in her opening tie at the Emirates Arena and swept aside teenage opponent Julie McPherson in straight sets, 21-6, 21-7.

However the British number one and top seed at this event welcomed the prospect of more of a domestic challenge in the years to come.

“I think success breeds success, is that not what they say, so I’d love to see people coming through the ranks and giving us a bit more depth in women’s singles in particular,” she said.

“Julie showed some good signs there and I’m hoping she can keep pushing on.”

Gilmour declared herself satisfied with her own form.

“It was a good start for me. I was fairly solid,” she said.

“Against anyone in the first round you just try to get your length and your height and see how the shuttle’s flying. Is it faster this way or that way, is there a drift to the side, all that sort of stuff.”

With Imogen Bankier having taken a sabbatical from the national squad so unavailable to defend the mixed doubles title she won with Robert Blair last year, Gilmour is the only serious prospect of a home winner this weekend.

However Edinburgh’s McPherson, who had done well in the week she celebrated her 18th birthday, to get through the qualifying competition, gained consolation for her defeat when she and Martin Campbell, who is also from the capital, beat English pair Scott Williams and Serena Midha in convincing fashion, 21-13, 21-12, to reach the last 16 in the mixed doubles.

The performance of the day came in the men’s doubles, however when a pair who could barely be considered eligible to fit into that category claimed a remarkable win.

Considerable excitement is building around the progress being made by 15-year-old twins Christopher and Matthew Grimley and having won two qualifying matches to get into the main draw they were simply too good for much more experienced English pair Darren Adamson and Scott Sankey, beating them 21-13, 21-15.